Lakers: 10 fates Fisher could’ve changed

Derek Fisher and fellow Lakers leaders Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol couldn't keep the championship train steaming ahead this season. Page through the captions for 10 things Fisher could've done to get it back on track. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER

We've broken down where eight of the Lakers' nine rotation players failed this season, and now we're at the last stop: co-captain Derek Fisher. Here's the last installment in the slideshow series listing 10 things each guy could've done to get the Lakers back to a championship level in the 2010-11 season.

Click on the photo to page through what Fisher could've done to make a difference.

Derek Fisher and fellow Lakers leaders Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol couldn't keep the championship train steaming ahead this season. Page through the captions for 10 things Fisher could've done to get it back on track. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER
10. Fisher could've been as clutch as usual and not crumbled in the final moments of the pivotal Game 3 in Dallas. He made one basket in the final minutes but then was late trying to steal a pass and fouled Jason Terry on the sideline – then left Kobe Bryant with his palms up in disbelief after shunning Bryant on the ensuing inbounds pass and throwing a pass over Lamar Odom's head. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER
9. Fisher could've rallied his more Kobe-fearful teammates to demand that the coaches and trainers have Bryant practice late in the season (or at least be more involved on the court) instead of continuing to save himself. Phil Jackson said the main reason for the Lakers' 12-3 record on second nights of back-to-back games was because Bryant had played the previous night, mimicking practice and enhancing teamwork for the second night. And consider that old fogies Bryant (52 percent field-goal shooting, 41 percent 3-point shooting, 1.5 steals per game) and Fisher (42 percent field-goal shooting, 45 percent 3-point shooting, 3.1 assists per game) were markedly better in those games than in all the others instead of fatigued, as one might expect. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE REGISTER
8. Fisher could've followed through on his threat to sign with the Miami Heat last offseason. It's safe to say that Fisher's leadership, speech-making and experience (no active player has won more playoff series) would've had a more profound effect on the Heat compared to his effect growing stale with the Lakers. Fisher's re-signing marginalized Steve Blake, the Lakers' main free-agent target, and who knows how assertive and effective Blake could've been if handed the keys with Fisher no longer around. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
7. Fisher could've opted for different words or timing on his Dec. 8 postgame speech about remembering to do the little things that create a connected team. Fisher spoke after hitting the winning shot to beat the Clippers – on a play wherein Matt Barnes trusted Fisher instead of forcing the ball to Kobe Bryant – but the Lakers went on to lose in Chicago two days later and get routed in their next two big games, too (Dec. 25 vs. Miami and Dec. 28 at San Antonio). TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY ROSE PALMISANO, THE REGISTER
6. Fisher could've told Phil Jackson it was indeed time to step down last season instead of asking for him to stay on. If Fisher says that, Jackson might've well ignored Kobe Bryant's request and followed his gut to leave – leaving the Lakers with a new voice (probably Brian Shaw's) and new drive this season. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; AP PHOTO
5. Fisher could've groomed Jordan Farmar better and differently to succeed him. At one point, it was assumed by both Farmar and Fisher that there would be a torch passed that helped the Lakers get better. Never happened. So Steve Blake was signed to replace Farmar, Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic failed to develop any lead-guard savvy, and Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock were drafted Thursday night. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY ROSE PALMISANO, THE REGISTER
4. Fisher could've delivered a speech in the postseason to make clear to the team that it was time to play to win and not be saddled with this anxiety over losing the three-peat. Fisher has been uncommonly unafraid of failure in his career and is cited as a "great orator” by young teammate Andrew Bynum – but that message that needed to get through never did. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER
3. Fisher could've organized the Lakers' defense better against Dallas. He is the guy teammates look toward for explanations and clarifications on strategy – on defense, too, not just in the triangle – and his communication obviously wasn't good enough in this regard. He otherwise played OK in the playoffs, posting a 36-to-8 assist-to-turnover ratio and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field until going 1 for 8 in the lopsided final game. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY MICHAEL GOULDING, THE REGISTER
2. Fisher could've taken the Staples Center microphone for the final introduction in the Lakers' novel championship ring ceremony on opening night and instead of gently ribbing Kobe Bryant in big-brother style, he could've taken a stern big-brother position and said: “Kobe, I know you as well as anyone, and I frankly can sense you're going to take it a little easier this season. That's not you. We need you to figure out a way to have the same fire as always. Do not let up. Be as involved as ever. Lead us to another championship.” For all the great speeches Fisher has given teammates in his career, that would've set a heck of a different tone to this season. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER
1. Fisher could've handled his duties as president of the NBA players' association differently. Only he knows how burdened he felt juggling that major responsibility in this toughest of labor crises – one he looked forward to for years – with his regular job as a player. Neither was all Fisher's fault, of course, but the net results, however you want to slice them: no Lakers championship, no labor agreement. TEXT BY KEVIN DING, THE REGISTER; AP PHOTO

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